“It's a program that emphasizes math, science, reading both social skills as well as physical wellbeing,” Finley said.

Jelani's mom, Patrice Sims, works as the registrar at his Carrollton-Farmers Branch school, McWhorter Elementary. Both mom and son insist the Michael Finley Foundation has Jelani on his way to a bright future.

"We go to book club on Mondays and math tutorials on Thursdays. That's throughout the school year,” Sims said. "I can depend on the Finley Foundation for that, and that’s a beautiful thing."